News Archive

Match round-up - First Division, Day 2

It seems that Eibar are determined to make the most of their reprieve from relegation this summer, and they stay joint top of the table together with Celta after a 2-0 victory over neighbours Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. Mendilibar’s side dominated early on, Iraizoz having to save from Saúl Berjon and Dos Santos, and they went ahead with a Berjón penalty after Laporte brought down Sergi Enrich in the area some ten minutes before the break. Adrián González made it two with a looping header from a corner with just over an hour on the clock, and only another save from Iraizoz prevented Dani García from increasing the lead later on. The defeat leaves Athletic at the bottom of the table, although it has to be said that they have been concentrating on qualifying for the Europa League up to now, and they will surely come back once the international break is over.

Atlético Madrid are just behind the top two on number of goals scored though after they beat Sevilla 0-3 later in the evening. Koke opened the scoring shortly before half time, poking a shot past Beto after Griezmann passed to him whilst lying on the floor, and Griezmann felt he should have had a penalty when he was sandwiched in the area soon after the restart. New signing Fernando Llorente went close for the hosts later on in the second half, but Gabi made it two with a long shot which took a deflection off Krychowiak. With six minutes to go substitute Jackson Martínez opened his account for his new side with a long shot over the head of the keeper, and Griezmann came close to a fourth when his shot hit the upright in the dying minutes.

Valencia can be forgiven for concentrating on their Champions League qualifier over the last few days, but once again they were held in the league, this time drawing 1-1 against Deportivo. The Galicians had the better of the early minutes, Luis Alberto and Sidnei both failing to hit the target when free on goal, and with six minutes to go to the break Lucas Pérez cut in from the right to beat Ryan with an angled shot. Negredo made it all square on the stroke of half time, turning a shot past Lux after Santi Mina headed on a corner, and with Parejo and Feghouli on the park, the Ches pushed forward after the break. Lux and his defence held fast though, and when Barragán was sent off for a second bookable offence, both coaches settled for a point. .

Granada meanwhile picked up their first points of the season with a 1-2 victory at Getafe. El-Arabi brought an early save out of Guaita before opening the scoring from the penalty spot after he was brought down by Velázquez midway through the first half. And some three minutes later Isaac Success made it two on a rapid counter-attack, his angled shot going right through the hands of the keeper. Before the break Emi Buendía fired a shot inches wide in reply, and with ten minutes to go Lafita got one back with a shot on the turn after a long free kick was played up into the air. Alvaro Vázquez could have saved a point in time added on had he been able to get on the end of a cross into the area, but it was a second defeat in a row for Fran Escribá’s side, and they end the weekend in next to bottom spot.

Las Palmas and Levante are both off the mark as well after they played out a fairly eventless 0-0 draw in the last match of the weekend. The two coaches laid their cards on the table when they lined up with five defenders each, and chances were few and far between. Javi Varas was called upon to make a couple of early saves from José Mari, Roque and Araujo saw shots go wide later in the first half, and after the interval the closest anyone came to scoring was when Araujo fired an overhead kick just wide of Rubén’s goal. Not much cheer for the fans though, and it’s going to be a long, hard season for both teams on this showing. (30.08.15)

Celta and Barcelona both won on Saturday, and they share top spot on maximum points pending the rest of the week two fixtures. Celta have the edge on goal difference though after they beat Rayo Vallecano 3-0, things swinging their way with only ten minutes gone when Nolito converted a penalty after visiting keeper Toño was sent off for bringing down Wass as he advanced on goal. New signing Juan Carlos came on and made good stops from Nolito, Aspas and Orellana, but some five minutes after the restart he was wrong-footed when Nolito’s shot took a deflection off a player to enter the net for the second. Trashorras almost caught Sergio Alvarez off his line a few minutes later, but Juan Carlos had to save again from Orellana, and with the game coming to an end Fontàs got on the end of a set-piece Nolito free kick to score his side’s third.

Earlier in the evening Barcelona won 1-0 against Málaga, their second single-goal victory in a row. The Andalusians didn’t let in a single goal in their two games against Luis Enrique’s side last season, and once again they proved a tough nut to crack. Luis Suárez had an early header ruled out for a previous push on a defender, and Mascherano headed against the crossbar, but Juan Carlos almost gave the visitors the lead with a shot from the halfway line which flew over the stranded Bravo but just missed the target. The locals felt they should have had a couple of penalties when Miguel Torres handled in the area and Suárez was brought down, and Kameni pulled off a string of saves, in particular from Messi. In the end Vermaelen volleyed home the winner after Kameni could only push out a cross from Luis Suárez with twenty minutes to go, although substitute Charles could have saved a point had Jordi Alba not closed him down as he prepared to pull the trigger with the game in the last minute of injury time.

Real Madrid ended their goal drought with a convincing 5-0 win over Betis in the last match of the evening, a result which gives coach Rafa Benítez some breathing space after a poor pre-season and a goal-less draw in Gijón in their opening match. Bale headed in a James cross to open the scoring with less than two minutes gone, and ex Madrid keeper Adán had to make a couple of top class saves from Ronaldo before James made it two with a wide free kick which rocketed in off the far post. After the interval Benzema made it three with a header from Bale’s cross, and James scored a fourth with an acrobatic overhead kick after blocking a previous shot from Kroos. Keylor Navas had to save from Rubén Castro though before the break, and with an hour on the clock the keeper stopped a Castro penalty after Varane was adjudged to have fouled Jorge Molina in the area. Adán and his defence frustrated Ronaldo a couple more times after that, and Sergio Ramos hit the foot of the post with another scissors kick, but with two minutes to go Bale ran through from midfield to wrap things up with an impressive shot which bent away from the keeper and went in off the near post.

Elsewhere Real Sociedad and Sporting Gijón drew 0-0 in Saturday’s opener, a second scoreless draw in a row for both teams. The local fans welcomed new signing Illarramendi back to the fold, but after that they had little to shout about, Carlos Vela heading a good chance wide and Jonathas coming up against Cuéllar before the break, and De la Bella going close in injury time. At the other end Guerrero and Sergio Alvarez tested Rulli either side of half time, and Halilovic came on to show some good touches later on as the Asturians fought back. Another 90 minutes without goals for either side though, and Sporting will be the happier of the two after taking a point last weekend against Real Madrid as well. (29.08.15)

The week two opener was on Friday evening between Villarreal and Espanyol, the hosts coming from behind to win 3-1 in the end. Ex Villarreal striker Gerard Moreno put Caicedo through for him to give the visitors the lead with only five minutes gone, and after the restart Areola had to save from Moreno, and Víctor Alvarez hit the crossbar with a cross-come-shot. The locals brought on Samuel and Bakambu though, and within three minutes Samuel lifted the ball through for Soldado to hook the equalizer past Pau López. Samuel himself fired a shot just wide a few minutes later, and in the last five minutes Soldado twice set up Bakambu for him to score his first two goals for his new club. (28.08.15)